Switching Gears Leads To 2nd Win

March 19, 2001|By Scott Merkin, Special to the Tribune.

After the Enforcers' Kevin McDougal threw for 274 yards in a loss at Memphis last week, they switched gears and ran past the San Francisco Demons 25-19 on Sunday night at Soldier Field in front of a season-low 11,428 fans.

The Enforcers (2-5) piled up 126 yards in 25 carries in the first half alone against the XFL's No. 1 defense, a unit that had allowed only 70.4 rushing yards per game.

John Avery, the XFL's second-leading rusher, finished with 110 of the Enforcers' 167 yards on the ground. But it wasn't until Dorian Brew's interception of Mike Pawlawski with 46 seconds remaining that the victory was secured.

LeShon Johnson (33 yards), who played under San Francisco head coach Jim Skipper with the New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals, scored twice to take the XFL lead with six rushing touchdowns.